Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 August 2026 Matthew 5:7.
Matthew 5:7. ‘Blessed are the merciful: for they shall receive mercy.’
Here it is friends, another beautiful summer Tuesday in August. But let’s enjoy these beautiful summer days to the max, because in another baker’s dozen of days, September will step in …with the cold weather. But can you imagine it? The summer will soon be over, when it seems like it’s just begun. That’s why we must ensure to make hay while the sun shines, otherwise time and tide will pass us by. (smile) And in keeping with that sentiment, today we’ll talk about a very important aspect of our faith; FORGIVENESS. Yes friends, forgiveness is right at the top of the list of our faith’s do’s and don’ts.
And we’ll begin by looking at the Prayer Card for Forgiveness that was recently put out by The In Touch Organization. So please read with me: ‘Heavenly Father, thank You for Your forgiveness. It heals my soul, and I want to forgive others the same way. Help me be merciful, remembering the debt Christ paid for me. If I’m holding on to any hidden resentment, please show me so I can release it. In the power of Your Holy Spirit, I open my heart to those who have wronged me. shower your goodness on them. Bless them with the joy and peace of knowing they’ve been forgiven. May you be glorified as trust is restored.’
Ah mih people, forgiveness is of the utmost importance in our Christian faith! So important, that in the Sermon on the Mount, Christ included it in those eight characteristics we call the Beatitudes, which describe one who has been saved. ‘Blessed are the merciful: for they shall receive mercy.’ (Matt. 5:7) And that’s the scripture verse quoted for the Prayer Card. It’s simple, but ever so powerful! Those who give mercy or forgiveness, will also receive mercy or forgiveness. It implies that those who do not give mercy or forgiveness, will not receive it either.
The scholars explain that verse thus: ‘Those who are merciful … shall obtain mercy has reference to those who have been born again by the mercy of God. Because divine LOVE has been extended to them, they have the work of the Holy Spirit in them producing a mercy that defies explanation by unregenerate men. Jesus Himself became the ultimate example of this when He cried from the cross, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ (Luke 23:34)
Now mih bredrin, that’s truly saying something! Jesus crying out from the cross for His Father to forgive the hateful, jealous, angry men who crucified Him on trumped up charges. They thought that they took His life, not knowing that He willingly gave it to procure their forgiveness. What a crossed up situation! But who else could have such a forgiving heart and Spirit but the Son of God, who gave His sinless life as a sacrifice on the cross of Calvary for a bunch of ingrates? Nobody!
And just to show how important forgiveness is in the Christian faith, in the prayer that Jesus taught the disciples, which we call the Lord’s Prayer, it says: ‘And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.’ (Matt. 6:12) That also implies that the Lord ought to forgive us according to how we forgive the wrongs others commit against us. And immediately after the prayer, Jesus made the importance of forgiveness very clear by saying: ‘For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’ (Matt. 6:14-15)
Now it could not get any clearer than that my people! If we want to be forgiven, then we must forgive! It’s that simple. But it’s so important that we’re reminded of it all through the New Testament. Jesus Himself repeated it in a slightly different form in Matthew 7, where He declares: ‘Judge not (condemn not), that ye be not judged (condemned). For with what jurdgement (condemnation) ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete (use), it shall be measured against you.’ (Matt. 7:1-2) In other words, the same things and methods you use against others, will be used back against you.
Then in the parable of the Unforgiving Servant, where the Master is irate after forgiving the servant a great sum owing to him, but the servant then refuses to forgive his fellow servant a small sum, and has him thrown into debtor’s prison, Jesus declares: ‘So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.’ (Matt. 18:35)
And then in Bruh Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, where he talks about some practical ways of putting on the new man, he admonishes: ‘Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice: And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.’ (Eph. 4:31-32) And it’s those same negative things listed above that often prevent us from forgiving others.
However, please note that forgiveness is not for the other person but for you! For if you don’t forgive, you won’t be forgiven. And if you keep all the anger and bitterness in your heart then they will make you miserable and you’ll lead a less that successful life. And something that also amazes me is that we tend to hold grudges against other people, and believe that we’re hurting them by so doing, but ofttimes they either don’t know about it or don’t care. So the grudge doesn’t hurt them, but boomerangs back on us. So there’s absolutely no reason to hold a grudge.
And the last scripture on forgiveness comes from James’ epistle, where he condemns favouritism and declares: ‘So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgement without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against (triumphs over) judgement.’ (James 2:12-13) And please, let’s remember that, as it’s all for our benefit.
Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’
That then makes us duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…as you pray for God to bless others…He will fill your heart with LOVE for them… (In Touch Forgiveness Card)
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